CVC and F1

This article implies that one of the major factors in the ousting of Mosley was that CVC were very afraid of what the breakway would mean for them, and so leaned heavily on Ecclestone to side with the teams:

The lever that got Mosley out was the pressure from the main owners of Formula One, CVC Capital Partners as represented by Bernie Ecclestone, the commercial rights-holder, who feared that their investment was in danger of being severely damaged by the breakaway. Ecclestone, together with Luca Di Montezemolo, the Ferrari president who led the revolt, met Mosley in Paris before a meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council and told him that his game was up.

See? CVC aren't the resident Wolfram & Hart of Formula One. Going by some of the early reports out of Germany, FOTA now gets a bigger cut of the commercial takings, apparently a peace offering between CVC and FOTA. Not blood money as so many of you assume.

This article implies that one of the major factors in the ousting of Mosley was that CVC were very afraid of what the breakway would mean for them, and so leaned heavily on Ecclestone to side with the teams:

See? CVC aren't the resident Wolfram & Hart of Formula One. Going by some of the early reports out of Germany, FOTA now gets a bigger cut of the commercial takings, apparently a peace offering between CVC and FOTA. Not blood money as so many of you assume.

I'm just questioning where it is you're coming from. Ever since it was announced that F1 and FOTA will not be breaking away, people suddenly seem to think CVC are evil because there is no chance FOTA can get their hands on the commercial rights.

I'm just questioning where it is you're coming from. Ever since it was announced that F1 and FOTA will not be breaking away, people suddenly seem to think CVC are evil because there is no chance FOTA can get their hands on the commercial rights.

CVC are evil because they only take from the sport and invest nothing into it.

But that doesn't mean there's no chance FOTA can't get their hands on the commercial rights. I think this Mosley exercise has helped wake everyone up to just who provides the value in F1. And it aint CVC...

2012, or Bernie keels over, that's when we'll see what Armageddon looks like.

CVC are evil because they only take from the sport and invest nothing into it.

Actually, invest in Formula One is exactly what CVC did. They're venture capitalists; it's what they do. They provide the money up-front for ventures that are considered to have high potential, but often come with some risk, moreso than the usual enterprise.

CVC provided Ecclesone with the money to acquire the rights to Formula One, and under him, the sport has expanded to nearly every continent and major car market at one point or another, and he's consistently branching out into new markets like India and South Korea to reach new markets and audiences. Races are held on world-class circuits, the broadcast is syndicated, providing uniform coverage to the world. Without Ecclestone and CVC's backing, Formula One would struggle to expand its boundaries - I doubt the sport would have ever gone to America at all without him - as circuits would fight one another for the rights to host races. There would be little in the way of continuity from one season to the next as races would come and go at a whim, while coverage of the races would be inconsistent with broadcasters only showing races as they chose. With CVC's money, Ecclestone tied everything up into one neat package, and if it's expensive to host a race, it's because the fee represents a commitment from race organisers. It's gotten a little out of control as potential races out-bid one another, but it's solid theory. It's better than the organisations side being reduced to in-fighting from one round to the next.

Actually, invest in Formula One is exactly what CVC did. They're venture capitalists; it's what they do. They provide the money up-front for ventures that are considered to have high potential, but often come with some risk, moreso than the usual enterprise.

CVC provided Ecclesone with the money to acquire the rights to Formula One

How much of that money flowed into the sport? How much of that money permitted F1 to grow? F1 has actually declined since CVC took over if we look at F1's audience numbers. We go to places no one much really wants to go, and no one actually attends. We don't have races at tracks people do want to go to. And the few tracks in markets with a big fan base, ticket prices are probitively high pricing out families and spurning new young fans from developing an interest in F1 and motor racing generally.

The demographics show F1 has an aging fan base - because not enough young people are becoming interested in it - having been priced out by CVCs 'investment' in F1.

No, CVC have provided ZERO value to F1 since they _acquired_ the rights to exploit it. What venture capitalists do is pump and dump. They're trying to do that with F1. There is no investment in the future here, just the rape of what is here and now.

Captain Tightpants: CVC provided Ecclesone with the money to acquire the rights to Formula One, and under him, the sport has expanded to nearly every continent and major car market at one point or another, and he's consistently branching out into new markets like India and South Korea to reach new markets and audiences.

Absolute crap: Ecclestone acquired (note) the rights in 1998 and by 2001 had still not paid for them in full - despite having at that stage sold a major portion to EMTV, who sold on to Kirch, to whom Ecclestone sold another 25%. When Kirch went tits up, the banks took over and CVC got involved in 2006. As for 'expanded to nearly every continent and major car market at one point or another, and he's consistently branching out into new markets like India and South Korea to reach new markets and audiences', before he acquitred the rights F1 was on 6 continents - Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, N Americ and S America - today it is on 4. As for India and S Korea - they have yet to complete circuits let alone host races, but we have lost US, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, France and effectively GB.

CVC provided Ecclesone with the money to acquire the rights to Formula One, and under him, the sport has expanded to nearly every continent and major car market at one point or another, and he's consistently branching out into new markets like India and South Korea to reach new markets and audiences.

I like the South Korea reference. How many seasons was the CART race in Korea being postponed, and in the end never happened? Let's wait and see. They started in April to construct it, but since then I haven't heard news about it.

Also whatever happened to the F1 race in Moscow? Why is there no race in Africa happening, but so many in Asia and Middle East? None in North-Ameriak.

It's after all a world championship. There is only one common pattern in all of this, and it's where is the money to be made? Not wrong in itself, but it seems to me that it's a good method to alienate the existing fan base even more, and living in Asian culture tells me one thing. If F1 is ever being accepted like it is in Europe (with the exception of Japan), it needs to be an Asian based series. If anyone doesn't understand why this is, then just ask why are there so many Europeans that don't give a dim about NASCAR.

Being exposed to F1 in one's own country simply doesn't mean people are going to embrace it easily. Besides, with the racing provided these last years, how can people fall in love with F1? If Berne, CVC wants to do something for the sport, they reinvest a moderate amount of the money they got out ouf the sport into it. And being an exclusive series alone won't do it.

Look, I don't have a problem with being wrong. Not when there's reason and an intelligent argument behind it all. I have a problem when people instantly dismiss my arguments simply because I make an argument that implies Mosley/Ecclestone/CVC/whoever are even slightly less than pure evil.

Look, I don't have a problem with being wrong. Not when there's reason and an intelligent argument behind it all. I have a problem when people instantly dismiss my arguments simply because I make an argument that implies Mosley/Ecclestone/CVC/whoever are even slightly less than pure evil.

Hello? You called someone a misanthrope for refusing to believe that CVC acted in anything other than self-interest.

Actually, invest in Formula One is exactly what CVC did. They're venture capitalists; it's what they do. They provide the money up-front for ventures that are considered to have high potential, but often come with some risk, moreso than the usual enterprise.

Eh, the money went into Bernie's pocket. They didnt invest in formula one, they bought Formula One from bernie. If they had invested money in F1 they would be putting money into the sport. they didnt do that.

Eh, the money went into Bernie's pocket. They didnt invest in formula one, they bought Formula One from bernie. If they had invested money in F1 they would be putting money into the sport. they didnt do that.

They actually bought it from the banks that got it but didn`t want it after Leo went bust.Now they are just harvesting it season after season.Taking out +500 mio every year just like that and nothing comes back to make the experience better.

Joe Saward mentions rumours of Ecclestone moving the ownership of the Formula One Group from CVC to Abu Dhabi:

[...]

The Government of Abu Dhabi is not in any trouble. According to The Economist the sovereign wealth fund ADIA is currently estimated to have US$ 875 billion in terms of total asset value. And the economy has not been much affected by the global financial crisis. Oil keeps coming out of the ground and there is no reason to suggest that is going to stop. Mubadala still has over $20 billion in assets under management. This move is interesting in the light of rumours that Bernie Ecclestone is working on a deal to have Abu Dhabi take over the Formula One group from CVC Capital Partners…